The Edmonton Oilers received a major scare and now face a stretch without one of their most important players after defenseman Darnell Nurse was bloodied by a vicious illegal hit to the head from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves over the weekend. The frightening incident has Nurse sidelined for 5-10 days while Reaves faces supplemental discipline from the NHL.
Nurse Knocked Out of Game Bleeding After Shoulder to Head
The devastating collision occurred during the second period of Toronto’s 4-3 overtime win in Edmonton on Saturday night. As Nurse attempted to skate the puck out from behind his own net, Reaves came in with a high, late shoulder that made direct contact with Nurse’s head, sending the Oilers blueliner crumpling to the ice in a heap. A dazed and bloodied Nurse struggled to get to his feet as concerned teammates and medical staff rushed to his aid.
“Obviously there was a big scare there,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters on Monday while providing an update on his star defenseman’s status. “Since then, he’s progressed really well, he’s doing as good as he can.” Still, Nurse will miss somewhere between five and ten days, leaving a major hole on Edmonton’s back end during a crucial stage of the season.
Reaves Suspended 5 Games for Reckless Head Shot
On the play, Reaves was assessed a five-minute major penalty for an illegal check to the head and a game misconduct that ended his night early. But further punishment was swift and decisive from NHL Player Safety. After a hearing, Reaves was slapped with a five-game suspension, taking him off the ice until early December.
“This is a high, forceful hit that makes the head the main point of contact on a hit where such head contact was avoidable,” the NHL explained in a video announcing Reaves’ suspension. “Reaves has both sufficient time and space to deliver a legal check or avoid the contact entirely. Instead, he takes an angle of approach that cuts along the front of Nurse’s body, picking the head.”
– NHL Player Safety Video
Huge Blow for Oilers’ Blue Line
Losing Nurse for any stretch is a massive blow for an Oilers team with championship aspirations. The 29-year-old is a pillar on Edmonton’s blue line, leading the team in ice time most nights while contributing offensively. Through 18 games, Nurse has tallied 2 goals and 7 assists while posting a solid plus-4 rating.
Now in his 11th NHL season, all with Edmonton, the 7th overall pick in the 2013 draft has developed into one of the game’s premier two-way defensemen. His combination of size, toughness, mobility, and puck-moving ability is a rare asset that the Oilers will be hard-pressed to replace, even in the short term.
“Darnell is a warrior and such an integral piece of our team,” a somber Connor McDavid told reporters after Saturday’s game. “You never want to see a teammate and a friend down like that. We’re going to have to dig deep and step up until he’s back.”
– Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Captain
Increased Scrutiny on Headshots
The scary scene involving Nurse is the latest in a string of concerning head shots and concussions early in the 2024-25 NHL season. According to sources, the league is facing pressure to further crack down on checks to the head amid heightened awareness around the severe long-term consequences repeated brain trauma can have on players.
While losing Nurse for over a week is an undeniable setback for the Oilers, the team is fortunate his prognosis isn’t more severe given the graphic nature of the play. As the rugged rearguard recovers, Edmonton must find a way to fill the immense void he leaves in the lineup, while Reaves will be left to ponder the reckless nature of his actions as he watches from the press box. The incident should serve as yet another wake-up call in the NHL’s ongoing efforts to eliminate dangerous and avoidable blows to the head from the game.
